Qianmen Street in a nutshell
Qianmen Street runs south from Tiananmen Square. Together with Dashilar, which lies west of it, it forms a historic trading district with shops, restaurants and the sites of former theatres, teahouses and bookshops. Qianmen Street is 840 m long and Dashilar Commercial Street 275 m. Those are the lengths of the streets themselves, not the distance from the square.
The district is the easiest way to extend a visit to the square. For guided day trips that include this area, see our guide to Tiananmen Square tours. The Temple of Heaven site also covers Qianmen from the south, and the palace to the north has its own guide to the Forbidden City.
Zhengyangmen, the Archery Tower and the Tiananmen Gate: three different buildings
The names are easy to mix up. Each has its own entrance and its own booking.
| Building | Where | Entry 2026 | Opening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zhengyangmen Gate Tower | South end of the square | CNY 20 | Tuesday to Sunday 09:00–17:00, closed Monday except national holidays |
| Zhengyangmen Archery Tower | Qianmen district | – | Check the current timetable before you go |
| Tiananmen Gate Tower | North side of the square | CNY 15 adults | Separate reserved visit, see the Tiananmen Gate guide |
The reopening in July 2026 concerns the Zhengyangmen Gate Tower only. It does not apply to the Archery Tower, and neither is the same as the Tiananmen Gate on the north side of the square.
Visiting the Zhengyangmen Gate Tower
Reopened on 27 July 2026 after a closure.
Reservation
Reserve through the official WeChat account of the Beijing Central Axis Heritage Protection Center. New tickets are released every day at 17:00. Group booking is not offered, so check the account for changes before you go.
Entrance
First you pass the security entrance to the square, where your reservation is checked. Then you walk to the west entrance of the tower at the south end of the square. A reservation for the tower does not replace the one for the square, so read the reservation guide first.
Free guided tours
Planned tours run at 09:30, 11:30, 13:30 and 15:30 and are free of charge. Check the language and whether a slot runs on your day before you plan around it.
Our pick: the hutongs by bike
Our take: a private bike day through the lanes south of the square, with Qianmen on the route.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Beijing day tours and city sights
Guided tours that cover the city center, the Forbidden City and old Beijing streets. Check what each tour includes before you book.
Qianmen Street and Dashilar: shops, food and hutongs
A district to walk through, not a single sight.
The shops fall into a few groups: long-established food and clothing brands, and souvenir stores. Opening hours differ from shop to shop, so check before you plan a specific stop.
Dashilar lies west of Qianmen Street and is part of the same historic commercial area. There is no single fixed hutong walk, rickshaw route or meeting point to book here, so walk it on your own or add a guided tour from the options above.
How to get to Qianmen
The district has its own metro station.
Metro
Qianmen station is on Line 2 and Line 8. Fares start at CNY 3 for trips up to 6 km, and foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are accepted at ticket machines and gates. Not every card works, so keep some cash as a backup.
Getting there →On foot from the square
From the square you walk south to the Zhengyangmen Gate Tower and on to Qianmen Street. After a visit to the square, this is a short extension on the same day.
Where to stay
Qianmen and Dashilar are a search area if you want the south side. The north side has Wangfujing. See our accommodation areas.
Before you go
Three checks that save time.
Reserve the square first
Entry to the Zhengyangmen Gate Tower starts at the square, so your square reservation comes first. The tower has its own booking, released every day at 17:00.
Pick the right tower
Decide whether you want the Zhengyangmen Gate Tower, the Archery Tower or the Tiananmen Gate. They are three separate visits with separate tickets.
Keep the timing flexible
Tower hours end at 17:00, and the free tours run four times a day. Plan the shopping streets after the tower, not before.
Qianmen: frequently asked questions
Is the Zhengyangmen Gate Tower open?
Yes. It reopened on 27 July 2026 and is open Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 17:00. It is closed on Monday except national holidays.
How much does the Zhengyangmen Gate Tower cost?
Entry is CNY 20 in 2026. The free guided tours at 09:30, 11:30, 13:30 and 15:30 are planned slots, so confirm the language and your day before you go.
Is the Zhengyangmen Gate Tower the same as the Tiananmen Gate?
No. The Tiananmen Gate is at the north side of the square and has its own reserved ticket. The Zhengyangmen Gate Tower stands at the south end of the square. The separate Archery Tower is a third building.
Which metro lines stop at Qianmen?
Qianmen station is served by Line 2 and Line 8. Tiananmen East and West on Line 1 are on the north side of the square.
Can I find opening hours for individual shops here?
No. Hours change from shop to shop and by season. Check on site or in the shop's own listing before you plan a specific meal or purchase.
Is this an official site?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not run by the square's administration, a museum, a tour company or any operator, and it cannot sell official tickets.